Shefford is 5 miles from Biggleswade on the A600 Bedford to  Hitchin road. It is mainly a commuter town, although there is a small amount of  local light industry. A weekly market is held on Fridays and there is a Post  Office and a wide range of shops, including a supermarket.

Education is  provuided by Lower and Middle Schools in the town and an Upper School over the  parish boundary in Cliiton. Regular bus bervices link the town with Bedford and  Hitchin.

The name, derived from Sheepford, was first recorded in 1225  when a Royal Charter was granted to hold a weekly market. A second Charter in  1312 gave the right to hold street fairs.

The Church of St Michael was  rebuilt in 1882, except for part of the 14th century tower. The Roman Catholic  Church of St Francis, dating from 1884, is topped by a bellcote and contains 30  feet high reredos.

Many old buildings remain, including the 16th century  'porch', now a bank, and most of High Street. For a short period in the 19th  century it was an inland port, having navigable waterway to kings Lynn. At this  time the straw plait industry was prominent as was a thriving tannery